Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — For some area residents, Monday was just another ordinary day on the job.

As the majority of Steamboat Springs' residents gathered with their loved ones to open Christmas presents and have a traditional dinner, others spent the day working.

Jason Celano, 25, spent the majority of Christmas working behind a cash register at Routt 66, 30475 U.S. 40.

The Florida native started work at 7 a.m. and would work until 4 p.m.

"When I'm with my family it's a special day," said Celano, whose family lives in Jacksonville. "When I'm by myself it is just another day."

Celano was able to talk to his sister and his mother before he started his day of work.

"It is not meaningful if you aren't with the people you love," he said.

Amorette Delgado, 21, spent her day working at Mocha Molley's Coffee Saloon at 635 Lincoln Ave.

The Colorado Mountain College student was not able to make it home to Fort Collins.

"It is something for me to do," Delgado said of her noon to 6 p.m. shift she was scheduled to work. "I would probably be sitting at home if I didn't have to work."

This is the first Christmas that Delgado has ever had to work.

"I wish I was home with my family," she said. "I'm kind of bummed about it."

Delgado was planning on celebrating the holiday with friends Monday night.

Working on Christmas is nothing new for Chris Stillwell, an employee at the Nite's Rest Motel.

"I have worked 12 straight years," he said. "It's the nature of the business."

Stillwell, 42, had to work from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the front desk.

"We split up the hours today, so nobody has to work a full shift," he said. "It's not bad to work, but I would rather not."

To celebrate the holiday, Stillwell, his wife and three children opened some gifts prior to his shift and opened the rest of the gifts in the afternoon.

"We kind of split up the day," he said. "They are excited to get going this afternoon."

Rob Drews, 19, and his older brother Ben, 21, spent the day at the Chief Plaza Theater working.

The brothers spent from noon to 6 p.m. working at the theater.

"I wanted to work today, so I would get New Year's Eve off," said Rob Drews, who sold tickets from a booth.

Although the two men worked, the Fort Collin's natives had something to look forward to when they got off work.

"My parents came up from Fort Collins," Rob Drews said. "My mom is cooking up a big turkey, so when I get off I am going to go home and open some presents."

For 20-year-old Scott Kostka, he would have no such luck of having a home cooked meal.

"I miss the food the most," said Kostka, who was working at The Click at 1809 Central Park Drive.

For the second year in a row, Kostka spent Christmas without being with his family, who live in North Dakota.

"It is hard to be away for Christmas," he said. "It just does not feel the same. It is a great day I'm sure for others."

Kostka worked from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the shop that rents skiing equipment. Once his shift ended, he said he was going to go snowboarding.

Evan Champlin, 17, spent the holiday working at the counter at Blockbuster Video, which is also located on Central Park Drive.

The high school student was working from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"This is my week off from school, but here I am working," he said. "I am making a lot of money."

Champlin, who was planning on spending time with his family once he got off work, summed up the day best for everyone who had to work on Christmas.

"It has been so busy today," he said. "It seems like it's any other day."